ML148525411

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**rare | this species was once apparently more common as a migrant but in the past decade has been less than annual in Maine. This is surprisingly the second record of Spring 2019, following another bird photographed in the Scarborough Marsh on 18 March. Nathan Hall reported it here earlier in the afternoon following up on a sighting from a coworker who indicated the bird has been sporadically present since Monday, 25 March. The bird was being seen in the water collected at the base of the small quarry here but during my visit it was 450m out in the ditch of the field to the west. Aerial images show irrigation (?) ditches that have been dug along the lengths of the fields, these were just deep enough so that while the swan was foraging it was out of sight; only when the bird lifted its head, could it be seen from the neck up. Large adult white swan. No knob of bill or pink coloration, as in Mute, the unfortunately expected swan in Maine now (though they are being held back). Small yellow spot on the bill, located in front of the eye, consistent with proportion expected on Whistling Swan. Stayed in the ditch throughout my visit; never got to see it fly. No vocalizations.

Technical information

Model

iPhone X

Lens

iPhone X back dual camera 4mm f/1.8

ISO

40

Focal length

4 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/1.8

Shutter speed

1/30 sec

Dimensions

1937 pixels x 1005 pixels

Original file size

549.75 KB